If it sounds dry, it's not - Walker's stories are as charming as she is. The book began when she wanted to write about her older brother's paper route after his death in 1997 so his grandchildren would know about him as a young man.

She began interviewing former paper boys and girls, from Alaska to Arkansas, Maine to California, collecting their memories. You can get the book online at Amazon.com.

For a column advancing her appearance Monday, I'm trying to find folks in Pierce County who, like me and thousands of others, was once a paper boy or girl. It's not as easy as it might seem. Gov. Jay Inslee was never a paper boy, nor was Tacoma city manager T.C. Broadnax. I've contacted policemen, judges and a postal worker. No, no and no.

I'm looking for the memories of paper boys and girls. Help me out!

If you have some, please share them, either here or by e-mailing me at larry.larue@thenewstribune.com Some will appear in Monday's column, so I need them by Friday morning.

And if you'd like to hear Ms. Walker talk about the subject, she'll be at the Wheelock Student Center of the University of Puget Sound at 7 p.m. Monday. Come prepared to smile.